Forest Laboratories Announces Court Sets New Trial Date for

Lexapro Patent Challenge
NEW YORK, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Forest Laboratories, Inc.
(NYSE: FRX) reported that today the U.S. District Court for the District of
Delaware has rescheduled opening arguments from May 9, 2005 to December 5,
2005 for the trial related to patent litigation regarding the SSRI
antidepressant Lexapro(R). Forest Laboratories, Inc., Forest Laboratories
Ireland Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S are plaintiffs with co-defendants being Ivax
Pharmaceuticals, Inc / Cipla Ltd. and Alphapharm Pty Ltd. The reason for the
delay is that defendant Alphapharm Pty Ltd. has alleged that H. Lundbeck A/S
destroyed relevant evidence. In response the Court will appoint a Special
Master to investigate the matter prior to opening arguments. Forest remains
confident in the strength of the Lexapro patent.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001011/FORESTLOGO )
About Forest Laboratories and Its Products
Forest Laboratories' growing line of products includes: Lexapro(R)
(escitalopram oxalate), an SSRI antidepressant indicated for the initial and
maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder and for generalized anxiety
disorder in adults; Namenda(R) (memantine HCl), an N-methyl-D-aspartate
(NMDA)-receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe
Alzheimer's disease; Benicar(R)* (olmesartan medoxomil), an angiotensin
receptor blocker indicated for the treatment of hypertension; Benicar* HCT(R)
(olmesartan medoxomil hydrochlorothiazide), an angiotensin receptor blocker
and diuretic combination product indicated for the second-line treatment of
hypertension; Campral(R)* (acamprosate calcium), a glutamate receptor
modulator, indicated for the maintenance of abstinence from alcohol in
patients with alcohol dependence who are abstinent at treatment initiation in
combination with psychosocial support; and Combunox(TM) (Oxycodone HCl and
Ibuprofen), an opioid and NSAID combination indicated for the short-term
management of acute, moderate to severe pain.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this release
contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks and
uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals,
acceptance and demand for new pharmaceutical products, the impact of
competitive products and pricing, the timely development and launch of new
products and the risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC
reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2004, and on form 10-Q for the periods ended June 30,
September 30, and December 31, 2004.
*Benicar is a registered trademark of Sankyo Pharma, Inc., and Campral is
a registered trademark under license from Merck Sante s.a.s., subsidiary of
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
SOURCE Forest Laboratories, Inc.
CONTACT:
Charles E. Triano, Vice President-Investor Relations of Forest Laboratories,
Inc., +1-212-224-6714
-0- Apr/28/2005 20:40 GMT